Aim. Identification of the effectiveness of fake news as an information war tool for Generation Z, that will allow adapting the tool in the near future. Methodology. For the study, the information and communication method was chosen, based on the identification of both the structure of communication links between and within groups, and the information content of communication reflecting the perception of values and carried out within the framework of the cluster-network model. In accordance with the goals and objectives of the study, a qualitative and quantitative study of the perception of FN by university students in Ufa, Moscow and St. Petersburg was conducted. The study involved up to 500 students of bachelor’s degrees in the humanities, as well as technical and natural science areas. 10 in-depth interviews were conducted with representatives of Generation Z (18-22 years). Results. It is revealed that the majority of Generation Z have a negative attitude to the fact of deception in the digital environment. As a result of the analysis of the fake news perception by Generation Z, it was revealed that most often fake news is related to international relations and Russia’s foreign policy. It is determined that the young people evaluate the effectiveness of fake news as an information war tool in at least two aspects: firstly, they believe that fake news can be targeted at certain professional structures, specific institutions and organizations, specific people or groups of people; secondly, fake news affecting the values of the population can have an impact on public opinion, appealing to which the actors of world politics can make certain decisions. Research implications. Information about the effectiveness of fake news as an information war tool in the perception by Generation Z can be used in the context of further studying information wars as a modern phenomenon, in developing measures to counter destructive political technologies, and will also be useful for political scientists and political technologists.

Aim. Examines the historical evolution of the concepts of power and state governance and their adaptation to the current digital era, drawing on realist theory and developing a new approach with new definitions and typologies for application at different levels of government. Methodology. The article drawing on the influence of realist theory, from Plato to Machiavelli and Hobbes, on concepts of power, international relations and public administration in the digital era. The analysis of both theory and practice, through comparative and system analysis, demonstrates the necessity of new categorisations of ‘state power’ and ‘superpower’, and similarly, further development of Joseph Nye’s concept of soft power for new conditions. Results. A new approach is developed, based on realism, with a new categorization of power, state governance, superpower, state capability and human capital, personified by Ancient Greek deities. Recommendations for improved state governance are made according to this new concept. Research implications. The theoretical significance of the article lies in drawing on the history of realist theory to develop a new concept of ‘smart’ power in the context of the contemporary state, and in bringing together philosophical and managerial discourse around the concept of ‘human capital’. The practical significance lies in the recommendations for applying the reconfigured concept of state power and of the role of superpowers in the development and implementation of strategic planning and e-governance. The article is aimed at scholars, teachers, students in relevant disciplines and at practitioners in public policy and administration.

Aim. To define the place of the platform of the hybrid wars and the related instruments in the on-going global transformations that lead to the deep reshuffle of the international economic relations including the basic interrelationships of the economic interdependence that were formed in the era of mature globalization. Methodology. Clusterization of the focus points of the transformations on the regional level in order to locate and define key instruments used to manage (stimulate and guide) the transformations. The transformations are analyzed through the prism of Thomas Shelling’s “theory of conflict” and its subsequent interpretations but with consideration of the new role of the information society. Results. The conclusions were made about the increasing importance of the military and in general - force components in the spectrum of the “hybrid war” instruments since the current generation of informational manipulation means appeared to be insufficient to reach the geo-economic objectives that major global centers of power face. At the same time the platform of “hybrid wars” remains operationally the most secure one to manage safely the chains of conflicts aimed to geo-economically transform regions and macro-regions. Research implications. The conclusion was made on the inevitability of the development of a new generation of the “hybrid wars” that would be based upon wider variety of instruments in the “transition zone” between the peacetime competition and “hot” conflict with military components.

Aim. To study the role of private military companies as a tool for implementing the power strategy of hybrid wars. Methodology. The analysis of private military companies activities as one of the components of hybrid warfare forms reveals the models and specifics of these organizations participation in armed conflicts. The work uses various general scientific methods, as well as comparative and institutional methods, the method of system analysis. Results. The activities of private military companies are a distinctive feature of military conflicts of the XXI century. These structures are an effective tool for implementing foreign policy, as well as an integral part of a set of measures that is used in the hybrid warfare. Cooperation with various subjects of international relations allows private military companies to act as an independent political actor. Three forms of participation of private military companies in hybrid wars are identified and analyzed: the conduct of military operations by the state with the involvement of PMCs; the hiring of PMCs by the state for operations; the assistance of PMCs in the implementation of military operations conducted by other states. Research implications. The results obtained allow us to expand approaches to the consideration of existing problems, create prerequisites for further study of the role of PMCs in the system of international relations.

Aim. To study the process of formation of Turkey as one of the poles of the emerging multipolar world. Methodology. The main methods of research are: systematic, comparative, and phenomenological methods. Results. The article summarizes the practice of implementing Turkey’s own geopolitical project, which consists of three parts: neo-Ottomanism, pan-Turkism and pan-Islamism. The author calls the combination of these characteristics the “Turkish triangle”. The analysis has shown that, in geopolitical terms, modern Turkey is a universal empire of the etacratic-ideocratic type, which is actively expanding in all types of geopolitical spaces. Research implications. The results of the study contribute to the theory of geopolitics, and are also important for predicting the geopolitical behavior of modern Turkey.

Aim. This paper critically examines these political and informational aspects of hybrid as used and defined in the West. Methodology. The paper applied critical discourse analysis to the collected research materials. In this manner, the power relations and dynamics are revealed more clearly for the reader. Results. It reveals that Western hybrid warfare consists of constraining the strengths and opportunities of other targeted powers while minimising their own weaknesses and threats within the context of the decline of the US-led Western global hegemony. Research implications. Hybrid warfare is a very commonly heard, used and abused concept in the 21st century. On the one hand, it is subjectively used as a concept of non-conventional warfare, often in the context of what the hostile and ‘aggressive other’ inflicts upon a ‘defensive us.’ It is also at times an accusation used against a foreign policy opponent or competitor as a means of constraining their operational choices.

Aim. To identify the factors that aggravated the ethnopolitical conflict in Northern Macedonia, as well as to determine the specifics of the conflict development. Methodology. The study is based on the analysis of sources containing information about the conflicting parties, fighting and pogroms in North Macedonia. The analysis of demographic statistics of the Albanian and Macedonian population of North Macedonia is carried out. Results. it is revealed that the development of the ethno-political conflict is caused by a sharp transition to open hostilities due to underestimation of the danger of the invasion of Albanian groups from Kosovo. The dynamics of the conflict were determined by such factors as the well-established recruitment of Albanians by the militants, migration and the growth of the Albanian ethnic group in the country. Research implications. The results of the analysis can be used to further study the confrontation between the parties at the present stage, as well as to predict the development of events taking into account European integration and the country’s accession to NATO.

Aim. The article discusses the results of a study aimed at constructing a theoretical model of the subjective well-being of older people. Methodology. The study involved 180 people from 10 regions of the Russian Federation, who visited their regional Centers of social services. The hypothesis of the study was the assumption that the subjective well-being of the elderly is largely determined by the characteristics of the emotional-personal sphere, components of existential fulfillment, while cognitive characteristics will be of secondary importance. Results. It was found out that the actual state of the intellectual-mnestic sphere is not the key factor in determining the subjective well-being of an elderly person, in contrast to the emotional-personal sphere and existential fulfillment. A theoretical model of subjective well-being is constructed. Research implications. The data obtained can be used in the development of scientifically based socio-psychological programs to support the elderly, as well as programs for the prevention of cognitive and emotional disorders in order to increase the general level of psychological well-being of the elderly and improve the quality of their life.

Aim. Analysis of psychological factors and tools aimed at neutralizing the destructive effect on the psyche. Proposals for the organization of counter-defamation programs. Methodology. A specific example of organizing a foil of a psychological operations plan is considered. Analysis of destructive content (fake) materials has been carried out. The study used methods of included observation, generalization, content analysis and interpretation of the results. Results. The patterns of psychological operations have been defined. The ways to neutralize their destructive influence are shown. Research implications. The results of the study contribute to the theory and practice of counteracting psychological operations.

Aim. The paper defines the characteristics of changes in social identity and the structure of personnel values in a training situation. Methodology. The main content of the study includes an analysis of the results of studying the relationship between social identity and the structure of managers’ values in a learning situation. The author carried out an experiment using the methods of “ROSSTL” V. G. Gryazeva-Dobshinskaya and “Reflexive choice” by V. A. Petrovsky on 80 managers in Russian commercial organizations. Results. The analysis showed that personnel training is a factor in changing the social identity and value structure of managers. Training promotes the identification of managers with the roles of a deputy leader and a creative employee and the choice of the values “Career” and “Power” that are relevant in their work, the values “Cognition” and “Money” that are necessary in their work, the values “Creativity” that are desired in work. Research implications. In the conclusion of the article, the main conclusions and the possibilities of using the obtained data are formulated, taking into account the actual practical needs in the field of training and development of company personnel.

Aim. Analysis of the features of the implementation of the supervision method in the process of training teachers whose professional activities include organizing pedagogical support for children in difficult life situations. Methodology. The article deals with the organization of professional support for teachers working with children in difficult situations in educational organizations of general and additional education. The main method of research is the method of supervision, based on Carl Rogers methodology of client-centered therapy. Results. The model of using the supervision method in working with teachers engaged in professional activities with children of vulnerable groups has been tested as part of the research work on creating conditions for professional support of teachers focused on working with children in difficult life situations. The use of the supervision method makes it possible to prevent emotional burnout in teachers, as well as to choose optimal ways to solve professional problems in the working conditions of the supervisory group, including the mode of remote interaction. Research implications. The results of the study contribute to the development of various formats of training teachers to work with children of vulnerable groups. The structure of the group supervision session based on Karl Rogers client-centered therapy methodology can be used for teachers and specialists of helping professions (social educators, practical psychologists), taking into account the specifics of their professional activities in providing pedagogical support to children in difficult life situations

Aim. To study the attitude to material resources and intangible values in relation to the level of altruism. Methodology. A survey was carried out (N = 299), methods of measuring altruistic attitudes (M. Yasin), diagnostics of intentions and expectations in a situation of intended exchange (S. Poddubny) were applied; comparative and discriminant analysis (SPSS 27.0) was performed. Results. It was found that with a high level of altruism, expectations to receive material resources from a partner in a situation of social exchange are more pronounced. With a low level of altruism, willingness to share material resources is more pronounced than expectation them to get them from an interaction partner. A “formula of altruism” was drawn up based on assessments of the readiness to share intangible and material values, expectations to receive intangible and material values. Research implications. The results deepen the understanding of the relationship between altruism and attitudes towards material and non-material resources.

Aim. The purpose of the study is to identify the linguistic means of expressing the implicit category of otherness as a communicative parameter. Methodology. The main methods of research are: descriptive, taxonomic, contextual and discursive analyses. Results. Linguistic means of alterity as a parameter of real and fictional communication and their ecolinguistic impact. are identified. Research implications. The research results contribute to ecolinguistics, cognitive linguistics and theory of communication.